Waters Likes His Progress; Preparing To Play Sunday

IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys brought in Brian Waters to add some veteran leadership to the offensive line, something they hope to see on the field Sunday.

Waters showed some of that experience on Wednesday when talking to reporters trying to get the scoop on his playing availability against the Chiefs. Read

“I did more than I did last week,” said Waters when asked if he practiced.

“I did more than I did last week,” he repeated when asked if he got first-team reps.

And what about him playing at all this week?

“I have no idea. That’ll be coach’s call. I’m just preparing myself the best I can. Another day of progress. I feel like this Wednesday was better than last Wednesday. That’s all I can really ask for. Trying to get better day by day.”

Head coach Jason Garrett said in his conference call with Kansas City media that his newly acquired guard did more in Wednesday’s practice than at any time in the previous week with the Cowboys, who signed him to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Sept. 3. Waters could earn up to $3 million depending on playing-time incentives.

Waters said his body feels ready, but admitted that can oftentimes be deceiving.

“Playing in a game is just different,” Waters said. “You can feel how you want to, but until you get out there and see the real bullets fly, it’s a whole different thing. I’m going to do as best I can to prepare myself. It’ll show for itself. For me, it’s about seeing things at a faster pace. That’ll be the thing I’m working hard at it. The guys are doing a great job of communicating with me.”

There is a perception Waters will have extra incentive to play this Sunday in Kansas City, a place where he spent 10 years of his career before joining the Patriots in 2011 for one year. But Waters dismissed that notion on Wednesday.

“I want to play regardless. The Kansas City aspect of it, it’s just the way the schedule fell,” he said. “I definitely want to get on the field as fast as possible. It really doesn’t make a difference that it’s Kansas City.”

Waters said he has received a few texts from his former teammates, mostly to congratulate him on the new gig. But he said he won’t have any communication with Chiefs players, coaches or staff members until after the game.

Whether or not he will have played his first game with the Cowboys at that point, remains to be seen. Read